Architecture and History of Mexico City - Small Groups

Overview

Available languages

English

French

Mobile ticket

We will visit the most important buildings and places that define the History and Architecture of Downtown Mexico City, which, until the late XIXth Century, used to be the entire town.

It sounds crazy but, in the same district. we will find such different buildings of many eras and styles: mexica, barroco novohispano, neoclassicism, eclecticism/porfiriano, art nouveau, art déco/streamline and, of course, the muralist movement, that merged architecture and painting together.

We might bump into some characters like griffins, gargoyles, serpents, snakes, eagles and even mermaids who have lots of things to say about what Mexico City is.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Allotted time for transportation / travel time is already included in the total duration

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

What‘s Included

Bottled water

Private transportation

What To Expect

Mirador Torre Latino

This corner shows us how Mexico City has evolved throughout its history and its an awesome spot to see all the layers of architecture and stories this walk has to offer.

30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

El Atrio del Templo de San Francisco

This building tells us about the constructive materials of Mexico City and some of the most important historical processes that made Mexico what it is today.

25 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Architecture and History of Mexico City - Small Groups

Reviews

5.00

15 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Raul was excellent! His...
Kate O,
Oct 17, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Raul was excellent! His tour does an excellent job at orienting you to the history of the city. He is warm, knowledgeable, and engaging. Highly recommend.
In depth tour
Jacqueline H,
Oct 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Very in depth exploration of Mexican architecture. Raul covered the historical impact upon Mexican architecture in the center of Mexico City
Fantastic walking tour
Val P,
Sep 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Raul was fantastic. We did this on our first day, as our first activity, in Mexico City. He’s extremely thorough and insightful, and gave us a great foundation of background info on both pre and post Spanish Mexico. I feel so much better primed for my trip to the anthropology museum because of it. Price was extremely good for the information and experience it got. Definitely recommend this to anyone going to ciudad de Mexico
The City came to Life!
Brad L,
Aug 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Raul was absolutely phenomenal! 🙌 This tour through downtown Mexico City was one of the most enriching and enjoyable experiences we’ve had, and Raul was the reason it all came to life. His passion for the city’s history and architecture was infectious, and the way he wove together centuries of cultural evolution—from Mexica foundations to Art Deco flourishes—was nothing short of masterful. We were amazed by how much we learned. Raul didn’t just point out buildings—he told the stories behind them, connecting styles and eras with vivid detail and thoughtful commentary. His insights into the muralist movement and the symbolism of mythical creatures like griffins and mermaids added a layer of magic to the walk. Every stop felt like a portal into another chapter of Mexico City's identity. If you’re looking for a guide who’s not only deeply knowledgeable but also engaging, warm, and genuinely invested in your experience, Raul is your guy. We left the tour feeling inspired, informed, and completely in awe of the city’s rich tapestry. Highly recommend!
Time well spent
ellencuykendall,
Jan 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Raul is a terrific storyteller of the long history of Mexico City utilizing its architecture to tell its story. It is engrossing and fun. Highly recommend.
Fantastic tour.
Freedom268467,
Oct 30, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent tour, guide is very knowledgeable and kind. The tour was very in depth and we felt very comfortable, learned a lot, and saw a lot. Would definitely recommend to anyone interested in the local architecture!
Fascinating!
NorthStar795076,
Aug 22, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Wow! What an amazing walking tour with a spectacular guide! Raul is passionate about the shape and form of Mexico’s history, and his enthusiastic presentation was eye-opening and informative - a wonderful, enriching experience. Muchas gracias, Raul!
Fantastic Tour!!
Lucy W,
Aug 6, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Raul was amazing in so many ways! He communicated with us prior to our tour and was most gracious with waiting for us due to our going to the wrong meeting location. His tour explains so much of the history and architecture of Mexico City. We had been to a few of the locations before but didn’t know the history or background of them. His tour will explain all. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to know and see more of this amazing city!
Amazing Architecture tour!
G2197VBmaries,
Jun 4, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
If you look for an enriching, entertaining tour through space and time in the historic center of Mexiko City, definitely go for it. Raúl is super knowledgeable and kind - we did a lot of tours with architectural focus already, this was definitely one of the best.
An immersive introduction to a fascinating city!
542vasilev,
May 9, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Few tours truly deserve the attribute of being eye-opening, but this tour certainly does. With Raúl as your guide, you will be able to lift the veil off the chaotic and somewhat overwhelming place that is Centro Histórico and see not just the area, but the whole of CDMX from a new unique perspective. Thanks to the carefully chosen places on the tour, each of them impressive in a different way, Raúl will help you unpack the many fascinating layers of history that all meet and clash with each other in the city and particularly in Centro Histórico. What is even better, is that through his captivating and passionate storytelling, he will make you discover the connections between the city’s history, its people and its architecture - so much so that even days later, exploring the city, I was able to make observations on the cityscape and architecture I would have never been able to do without this tour. I have rarely taken a tour that was able to achieve such an impact. It thus goes without saying that I can highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to truly understand CDMX and the people it is shaped by - you won’t get a better introduction to this fascinating city than through Raúl. I am very glad I have taken this tour.